Panasonic RP-HTX7: Modern Retro

The Panasonic RP-HTX7 are a play on the great retro look of classic stereo headphones, with the modern technology for great-sounding digital sound. Usually you can’t expect much from a sub-$40 pair of headphones, but Panasonic really did us all a solid with these.

The first thing I noticed is the great bass range that these are capable of. I put them through a series of tests with some of the best bass lines out there (including everything from the classic Rush “YYZ” to the more ridiculous Bassnectar) and was never disappointed. The volume on these is also great, and can reach unhealthy decibel levels without very much distortion in sound. They’re also super light, and don’t weigh your head down.

However, they’re not all sunshine and rainbows. If you have large ears, I hope they’re at least flexible–you’re going to have to find a way to make them fit in there. However, speaking as the king of the large ear people, it at least doesn’t hurt your ears like some small headphones out there. Also, the audio cable is very short, and does not detach from the headphones. If the cable breaks, you gotta get new headphones–no bueno. The most high quality headphones out there have the detachable audio cables (think Sennheiser), and I don’t see any reason why this couldn’t be a feature in all headphones these days. Also, in our increasingly wireless world, the short cable can get a bit frustrating. I can’t even stand up at my desk while wearing them (granted, I’m 6’6”, but still).

If you want a slick set of headphones without a slick price, these Panasonic RP-HTX7 bad boys are not a bad option at all. Bravo, Panasonic.